What happen to male chivalry? Did it end with generation X?
Let’s talk about it…
Curtis and his wife Gloria are having their first child. Curtis is excited to find out the baby’s gender. If it’s a boy, he vowed to pass on the Jordans’ family legacy of chivalry to the male offspring. However, if it’s a girl, he vowed to start a new family legacy by teaching his daughter what not to accept from a man. Curtis’ father Curt taught him the history of their family legacy when he was thirteen. On Curtis’ thirteenth birthday, his father took him camping. For three days, young Curtis learned how to fish; hunt for food; build a campfire; listen for sounds and signs of near danger from wild animals or nature. He learned how to protect himself as well as protect anyone in his care by using nature and items found in the woods to build a weapon or shield. Curtis was taught how to use different types of hunting knives. On the last night of camping, young Curtis was taught the most valuable lesson of chivalry which is how to treat a lady. Curtsays to his son Curtis; “Son, this final lesson starts by hearing then by observation; follow with actions. A woman is the mother of the earth in humanity form, through her loin’s life is reproduce. She is wise, strong; yet soft. A man should never damage or abuse a “Woman”. Because a woman is a nurturer by nature, she will provide nourishment to a man’s body with food and to his soul with spiritual encouragements. A woman is a man’s lucrative investment. What a man gives in relationship to a woman, he will reap 100 times 100 percent in return. What I am saying son, if a man gives respect to his woman, he will reap respect, dedication and loyalty from his woman. However, if a man damages his woman by hurting her mentally or physically, he will reap sorrow, misfortune and pain in his life. Also, his off springs birth through her loins will not respect him. Son, a man should protect his woman and off springs as well as provide for them. This is not saying that a woman should not work outside the home; but a man’s first financial priority should always be his family’s well-being. A man should open doors for a woman; pull out her chair in restaurants before she sits; carry heavy items for her; make sure the maintenance of her car is up to date. What I have taught you this weekend was taught to my father from his father. This tradition of legacy started with your great-grandfather. It is my sincere desire that you also past down this tradition to your son someday.”
Curtis, thinks out loud to himself as he prepares to take his wife to the doctor to find out the baby’s gender; I will teach my son the same principles about male chivalry that my father taught to me. Curtis looks up toward the sky as he says “Dad, I won’t let you down. God, please give me the gift of a son with this pregnancy.” Curtis and his wife Gloria are sitting patiently reading magazines as they wait for the nurse to call their names. Curtis’ heart being to jump as he hears the nurse shouts “Gloria Jordan”. Curtis stand up and reach out his hand to help his wife up from her seat. He escorts her towards the open door where the nurse is standing holding their chart in her hands. Good morning, this is my wife Gloria Jordan states Curtis as they approached the nurse. “Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Jordan, please follow me to room five; states the nurse.” Curtis follows behind his wife and the nurse towards room five. After the nurse prepares Gloria for an Ultrasound, she informed them both that the doctor would be in shortly.
Doctor Gordon greets the couple as he walks into the room. After he examine Mrs. Jordan, he informs them that all appears to be well. However, he informs them that there are two hearts beating systematically or one heart beating irregularly. The ultrasound will give us clarity states Dr. Gordon. The nurse turns on the ultrasound machine as Dr. Gordon pour gel on Gloria’s belly then proceeded to roll the camera on top of the gel. A picture appeared on the screen of the ultrasound machine. Dr. Gordon looks at the couple with a smile before stating; You are pregnant with twins. Let’s see if we can find out the gender of your babies. One is a boy and the other child is a girl. Curtis jumped with joy. Thank you, Jesus, shouts Curtis. Tears run down Gloria face as she looks at the screen on the machine. The Jordan’s name their twins after Curtis’ mother Brandy and Gloria’s father Brandon.
Watching their twins grow into their teens; the Jordans felt extremely happy Brandon is not socially shy like his sister Brandy. However, they are concern about his willingness to follow the path of other boys his age. One month before Brandon’s thirteen birthday, Curtis informed him of their plans to go camping for three days. Brandon asked his dad why we need to go camping because I am turning thirteen. Well son, it’s a family tradition past down from your great-great grandfather. The purpose of the camping trip is to teach you the Jordan’s family legacy of chivalry. I will pass on to you what my father taught me about being a man and how to provide and protect your family, as well as, how to treat a woman. Aw dad, that sounds whack. If I must go, can my friends come so we can go swimming and sleep in tents? Son, I have plans to teach you how to fish; hunt for food; build a campfire; listen for sounds and signs of near danger from wild animals or nature and how to protect yourself as well as protect anyone in your care by using nature and items found in the woods to build a weapon or shield. Also, you should learn how to treat and respect a woman. Dad, I am good on how to treat a woman. I always say thank you to mom after she cook for me; clean my room and wash my clothes. I see how happy it makes her when I say thank you. When I get marry, I know to say thank you after my wife do everything for me. What more is there to learn. I don’t think I need a camping trip to learn to say thank you. I know I do not need to go to the woods to learn how to protect myself in the woods because I won’t be going to the woods ever in my life. Dad, I think you should have some fun in life. You might enjoy going camping more if you have some fun. Maybe you need me and my friends to teach you how to have fun.
Curtis was not prepared for his son’s reaction to taking him camping in honor of the Jordan’s family tradition. He thought Brandon would be as eager as he was at the age of thirteen. “Son, chivalry is so much more than saying thank you to a woman. It’s opening the door for her. Pulling out her chair before she sits. It’s walking on the side of traffic when you two walks down the streets.” Before Curtis could finish what, he was saying, Brandon interrupts his father by saying; “Dad, girls these days do not care about that stuff. I watch music videos on cable, and I listen to my friends’ older brothers talk about girls. They all say the same thing. Girls these days are happy if you spend some time with them. They love it when you claim them publicly as your girlfriend. They want you to take them to parties and wear matching colors. If they get pregnant, they want you to claim the baby and act like a father. They don’t care if you don’t pay child support as long as you claim the baby. They only ask for child support when you don’t claim the baby. They want you to compliment them by saying they look cute or is fine as heck. They want you to be with them on their birthday and the baby birthday. You don’t have to buy a present. They will buy presents then tell their friends that you bought it. A girl especially loves you if you have a car. You see dad, I know how to treat a woman. The older guys in the neighborhood are always hipping us young guys to game on how to treat a woman.
Curtis did not understand the last sentence his son spoke. He assumed it had to do with learning how to treat a woman from the older guys. “Son, I see you have your mind made up and it would be senseless for me to try to teach you what I was taught from my father when your mind is not open to receive. Later that evening Curtis had a talk with his wife about his discussion with their son Brandon. Gloria expressed to her husband in the most respectful way she could; “honey, I really don’t care about Brandon preconceived notions on how to treat and respect a woman. You are his father, not the neighborhood guys. I would like for you to take him on that camping trip without his friends. He does not get a say in whether he is going or not. For this household we will follow the principles of the bible. In Proverbs, chapter 22, verse 6 states: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. What he is going through, and thinking is a phase that will constantly change based on the talk of the day from the neighborhood guys. We cannot shelter him from the world that surrounds us; however, we can counter some of the things he hears by allowing our voice to be strong among the other outside voices. It might appear at times that he is steering away from our voices or teachings; it’s okay, we must trust in God’s word that when he is old or wiser; he will not depart from the principles we taught him.” “I agree with you dear; I will let Brandon know that he has no say in this camping trip. In addition to following the principles my father taught me; I will take my bible so that we end each day at camp with bible study and prayer.”
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